The life of the renowned photojournalist Dorothea Lange will be set to song in THINGS AS THEY ARE, a new musical by Jonathan Comisar and John Dietrich which will receive its world premiere at the 2010 New York Musical Theatre Festival where it will begin performances on September 27th at the Theater at St. Clement's (423 West 46th Street New York, NY).
Selected as one of five finalists for the prestigious Fred Ebb Foundation Award in 2009, THINGS AS THEY ARE is a sweeping portrait of influential American documentary photographer Dorothea Lange and is a musical examination of an artist's journey as complex as the history captured in her work. Best known as the photographer behind the iconic Depression Era image "Migrant Mother," Dorothea fights for the lives of the people she photographs, while constantly torn between the demanding roles of wife, mother, and artist. A woman ahead of her time, living during a tumultuous period in American history, will her relentless devotion to her subjects undermine all hope of keeping her world in balance?
THINGS AS THEY ARE featuring book and lyrics by John Dietrich, with music by Jonathan Comisar is produced by Ariadne C. Villarreal. Casting will be announced at a later date. The Theater at St. Clement's is located at 423 West 46th Street New York, NY.
Performance dates: Monday, Sep 27th, at 8:00 pm, Tuesday, Sep 28th, at 9:00 pm, Friday, Oct 1st, at 1:00 pm ,Saturday, Oct 2nd, at 5:00 pm, Saturday, Oct 2nd, at 9:00 pm and Wednesday, Oct 6th, 2010 at 9:00 pm.
For tickets and more information about the 2010 New York Musical Theatre Festival, visit www.nymf.org.
John Dietrich (Book Writer / Lyricist) has had a career as a professional Director / Choreographer that has spanned over 25 years. This includes a 17 year relationship with Radio City Entertainment, where he was a Director / Choreographer for the world-famous Rockettes, Rockette Special Events, as well as for the RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR. Other work includes hundreds of shows in a vast range of entertainment genres; from television to Off-Broadway & regional theatre, from industrial shows to ice shows. He has written forWalt Disney Entertainment, as well as for Dolly Parton & Dollywood Entertainment.
Jonathan Comisar (Music) is a composer/lyricist in the prestigious BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop. His musical comedyCYNTHIA AND THE DREADFUL KITE was premiered at The Public Theater as part of the Labyrinth Barn Series. An invested Cantor with a Masters in Sacred Music, he is a noted and often published composer of Jewish liturgical music. Comisar is a member of the faculty of his alma mater Hebrew Union College where he teaches classes in arranging, composition and sacred music.
Ariadne Villarreal (Producer) recently helmed various large scale product launches and corporate events in the United States and Middle East. Previously, she spent ten years as the Associate Director of Special Projects for Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS where produced many high profile events in numerous Broadway houses, Town Hall and Lincoln Center including five annual NOTHING LIKE A DAME performances featuring women on Broadway, and three ABC DAYTIME SALUTES BROADWAY CARES events. She has worked with stage legends (Patti LuPone, Jennifer Holliday), small screen icons (Susan Lucci, Cameron Mathison, Tony Geary) and Academy Award winners (Meryl Streep, Hilary Swank, Whoopi Goldberg). The former owner of an entertainment production agency based in London, Ariadne has worked in a variety of performing and production capacities on three continents including Tokyo where she produced and choreographed for Paul Anka, Christopher Cross and Diana Ross. She lives in Brooklyn with her supportive husband, lovely son and labradoodle.
THINGS AS THEY ARE will be presented as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF). Now in its seventh year, NYMF is the largest annual musical theatre event in America and is widely regarded as the essential source for new material and talent discovery. NYMF provides a launching pad for the next generation of musicals and their creators to ensure the continued vitality of one of America's greatest art forms. Hailed as the "Sundance of Musical Theatre," NYMF discovers, nurtures, and promotes promising musical theatre artists and producers at all stages of development, and inspires a diverse audience through vibrant, accessible, powerful new work.
NYMF Memberships, which combine charitable contributions with valuable, flexible ticket packages and perks like early seating, and tickets to individual events are currently available for purchase at (212) 352-3101 or www.nymf.org. Single tickets for Festival events will go on sale September 1.
